the woman who blogs before you is not the same woman she was on 11/30/2009 . . .
while strolling through the internet late last year, i came upon something called #best09, and when i saw that it was a month of daily writing prompts, i immediately figured out how to sign myself up. i had a blog, but the vacancy sign was on more than it was off, and for the last 31 days of the year, i wouldn’t have to think about what to write about. what’s not to love about that?
my daddy died on 12/2/2000, you see, so like #best09’s creator, gwen bell, this time of the year is tender for me. i flounder. i hear constant whispers telling me that i need to be doing something more, something significant. i grieve and chide myself about not being over it yet.
#best09 would be my sparkly distraction that would get me through the annual grief. it would give me focus. well, i’m here to tell you: it did that . . . and so much more.
participating in last year’s #best09 changed my life.
after spending years preserving other people’s stories, i took time to remember some of my own. after carrying around book ideas for so many years, I am writing them. after despairing that one day soon i’d open my mouth to speak and see dust flying out, i am digging into stimulating research and collaborating with other women on programs that i hope all will find life-affirming, life-altering. after resigning myself to spending the rest of my life on a day-in/day-out humdrum basis, i am making time for doing things besides cleaning up cat vomit.
through my participation in #best09, i discovered writers that continue to up my game. i connected with women who share my interests and enrich my life daily. i am delving into research that keeps my creativity sharp and my brain supple.
i’m now a permanent resident on twitter, where nobody runs the other way when i call spend 5 characters calling them “sugar” (comma makes 6), where i walden with friends every chance i get, where i laugh, cry, and cheer daily without the stigma of neediness or nerdiness.
this year gwen changed the name from #best09 to #reverb10, gave the event its own site, took on some rockin’ helper bees. there are changes, sure, but the essential core of the event remains the same. starting tomorrow, hundreds of us will come together as community, reflecting on what has been and reverberating what will be. we will meet people whose presence in our lives will make us better people. we will discover things about ourselves, and we will write like we’ve never written before.
we will bear witness to each other, and our lives will never be the same because of it.
if you’re looking for something to write about (wink, wink), perhaps you’d like to join us.
(you can thank me later.)
~~~
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#reverb10
I’m in too. Can’t wait to hear what you have to say. xox
I’m in, too, Jeanne, and largely because I credit #best09 with introducing me to your kind, wise, open heart (sugar!)
I’m in because of you, and I’m sorry that I share my birthday with the day your daddy died. I will celebrate my birthday with a blessing to him, thanking him for being a part of you (and you a part of him), because I know I am sure grateful to have you. And I know I am grateful to have this month to walden with you and our other friends.
I love your description of #best09 & what you gained from it. Can’t wait for reverb10 & sharing in this journey with you.
You were my first reader around this time last year. I’m so happy that we both participated in #best09. You’re one awesome lady. <3
I am in as well, and am so excited to read your reflections. I also lost my father around this time of year and sympathize with the pain the holidays can carry with them, right along the joy and introspection. Happy December, and happy reverb10 to you!
This sounds fabulous. I’m going to put my ‘chore doing’ into turbo mode and spend time reading the links you’ve provided. I think I’d love to be part of something like this. Thank you! In so many ways, you’ve been such a blessing to me this year …
I just signed up.can’t believe it’s been a year since we met. Looking forward to what comes this year. Love your words – of course.
Busy day today, so I just wanted to squeeze in a word here to say wow, Jeanne, how beautiful and strong and connected and brave and loving this is. And how beautiful and strong and connected and brave and loving you are. Your lovingly-persistent invitations for me to join #reverb10 are so much deeper and wilder and truer, and just plain cool, knowing this. Thank you and thank you.
And here we go!!
I joined in on a lark, but your description of last year and how it changed your life lights a fire for me. Thank you!
This is my first go at reverb10, I hope it does for me what it did for you 🙂
I love how you describe it as bearing witness to one another. This is my first year participating and alreaady I am finding it so powerful
I love how you describe it as bearing witness to one another. This is my first year participating and alreaady I am finding it so powerful